Wednesday, April 16, 2014

While I was wasn’t impressed with the meal I got at Sun in
Bloom last weekend, my faith in healthy, vegetarian, natural food options in
New York City was restored on Wednesday when I had my first experience with Dig Inn!

With locations all over the city, Dig Inn Seasonal Market is
“real food, real quality.” According to them.
But I’m pretty sure I concur.
They have TONS of options- both for vegetarians and meat eaters. Salads, soups, shakes, juices, and my favorite-
the build your own platters.

I must have sat on the website for like 40 minutes trying to
figure out what I wanted, since my friend was going to go and pick it up for
us. You can choose either a big plate or
a small plate. You start by picking a meat, tofu, or veggie plate. Meat options include things like lemon herb
chicken, spicy meatballs and braised beef.
Vegetarian options are tofu salad and wild salmon- or you can choose the
veggie platter option and you get to pick an extra “side” item for your plate.

Next is deciding between either a green or a whole
grain. Arugula, baby spinach, brown rice
or the “specialty grain.” And then, the
hardest part (as if there weren’t already too many options for someone like
myself to consider!) The sides! So many delicious sounding options and you need
to choose 3! (Or pay extra for more).
The best part is that they change based on what the current available/in
season ingredients are. Some sides on the menu right now are roasted brussels
sprouts (let’s be real, they’re on EVERY menu), sautéed kale with purple
potato, Tuscan white bean seasoned with ham, beets and cucumber salad, kale
& apple salad, etc.

As you build your plate on their website, they give you all
the nutritional information too- which is amazing for someone who is guilty of
being a calorie-counter (I know, I know, I need to stop). Lastly, you can add sauces and spreads (guac
is $1.38 extra, grr).

So enough about the ordering process- let’s talk about what
I ate, because I really want to relive it.

First of all, love that they serve it in little brown boxes
a la Whole Foods that feel earthy and healthy.
Lame, I know. I got a small plate with the organic tofu salad (tofu, green beans, carrots, and raisins in a wasabi aioli
dressing). Uhm. Yum. I think this was my favorite part. Tofu is usually bland, but this actually
tasted like something to me- and it was something great.

I also opted for the
“specialty grain” which was cracked bulgur wheat with celery, carrots and
onions tossed with a lemon/apple cider vinaigrette and agave, and seasoned with
a Mediterranean spice blend. That’s a
mouthful. After my bulgur salad from
FISHTAG that was kind of a bummer, I was a little hesitant to order this. It was underneath everything else on my
plate, and kind of mixed in with all the other sides, but overall I’m glad it’s
the grain I went with instead of just plain old brown rice (I’m not the biggest
brown rice fan, because most of my experiences with it are like my Sun in Bloom
experiences where it’s bland and boring and I’m left regretting the carbs).

My three sides were all great as well,
I really have nothing bad to say. They
were seasoned and tasty and not boring in the least- yet based on Dig Inn’s
website, it really is healthy! I got the roasted Brussels sprouts (tossed with
fresh lime juice and a touch of maple vinaigrette), the broccoli with roasted
garlic and almonds (red pepper flakes and maple vinaigrette) and the roasted
carrots and parsnips mixed with dried cranberries in a tangy apple cider vinaigrette.

(I Dig it- HA)

For just $7, I wasn’t left feeling
ripped off at all, considering the price of lunch in midtown Manhattan can be
pretty insane. Although I will say, I TOTALLY could have eaten more- next time
I may go with the large plate. Also throwin’ it out there that my friend had
amazing things to say about the spicy meatballs, and I tried his kale &
purple potatoes and sweet potatoes and they were great as well!

I think my favorite part about this
menu, is that for every ingredient, Dig Inn lets you know the exact farm that
it comes from. It’s kind of incredible
that I can know the Brussels sprouts I’m eating come from Bayview Farm in
Jamesport, LI (Long Island, represent!)

The one thing I have to say, is that
most people seem to agree that this place is usually PACKED at lunch hour and
that the employees there are less than friendly- rushing customers and coming
off as rude. They should be happy about working at such an awesome place, is
what I say!

I will definitely be back for more Dig
Inn (if I ever make it through my bucket list…)

With so many different locations,
pick-up, delivery and online ordering, you really have no excuse not to try
this place! Go! Do it!

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